Each year, millions of Americans relocate across town, to a new metro, or across state lines. For a moving and storage company like Craig Van Lines, understanding where people are going and why offers critical insight into demand, emerging routes, and the kinds of services customers will need. Below is a deep dive into the most current trends in internal U.S. migration, what’s driving them, and how patterns differ by age and life stage.

Migration Trends in the U.S.: Big Picture

Sun Belt & the Southeast continue to dominate inbound migration

Over the last decade, the broad trend has been toward growth in the Sun Belt, especially in states in the South and Southeast. States like North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida have consistently shown net gains from internal migration.

According to the Allied Migration Report for 2024, among the top inbound states were North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and Virginia, with the Carolinas and Tennessee ranking high for multiple years in a row. United Van Lines also reports substantial inbound flow to less densely populated areas, especially in the Southeast.

Tax-Foundation analysis of Census data shows South Carolina had the greatest net domestic migration growth in the 2023–2024 period (1.26%) among states.

States losing population through domestic outflow

On the flip side, several states have persistently lost residents to internal migration. The biggest net domestic outflows in recent years include California, New York, Illinois, New Jersey, and Massachusetts.

For example, between 2023 and 2024, California lost 239,575 people to other states, and New York lost 120,917. Most moves from California go to Texas — historically one of the largest migration corridors.

Also relevant: the Northeast as a region has been a net loser. SmartAsset reports that more people left the Northeast than moved in, with many heading toward the South.

A shift in momentum: cooling in former hot spots

It’s worth noting that some of the “pandemic boom” destinations like Florida and Texas are seeing signs of slowing in their domestic inbound flows. PODS reports that Florida and Texas, which previously dominated top-mover lists, “have cooled down” in recent years. ResiClub data suggests that Texas’s net domestic migration in 2024 (+85K) is much lower than in earlier years, hinting at some flattening of the trend.

That said, international migration (immigrants moving into the U.S.) continues to bolster population growth in states like Florida, California, and Texas.

Why Are People Moving? Key Drivers

Understanding motivations helps explain not just where people go, but why. Some of the biggest drivers include affordability, work flexibility, taxes, climate, and family connection.

Affordability & lower cost of living

One of the most consistent motivators is housing cost and affordability. Many Americans are priced out of high-cost coastal or high-tax states and are seeking better value elsewhere.

For example, Raleigh Realty notes that many southern states offer cheaper housing, lower cost of living, and a better quality of life — a major draw for people relocating in 2024. U.S. home price data shows that states like West Virginia, Mississippi, and other interior states have far lower average home prices than states like California, New York, or Washington.

Also, nonmetro (rural or less-dense) counties in recent years have seen positive net migration, suggesting that people are moving away from dense metros to more affordable outskirts.

Remote work & flexibility

The spread of remote or hybrid work models accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, and for many people, the ability to live farther from job centers has opened up new geographical options. This is especially true for knowledge-economy workers who are less tethered to physical offices.

Even as in-office work returns in some sectors, many workers now view flexibility as a given. Some have used this flexibility to decamp from expensive coastal metros to lower-cost interior or Sun Belt locales. While official migration studies don’t always break out remote work explicitly, industry analyses point to it as a continuing influence.

Taxes, regulations, and business climate

Tax rates, regulatory burdens, and state policy climates are another major factor.

States with higher income taxes and property taxes tend to see more outbound migration. For example, California residents have long cited high taxes (both income and property) as a reason to leave. Some states (especially in the South) actively market themselves as lower-tax alternatives.

Also, business environments matter: states that are seen as friendlier to companies (less regulation, incentives, lower corporate taxes) may attract relocation of people along with businesses.

Climate, lifestyle, and amenity preferences

Warm weather and fewer cold winters are tangible draws, particularly for retirees or those seeking milder climates. Many people moving to the Southeast or Southwest cite lifestyle considerations — access to outdoors, recreational options, and a more relaxed pace.

Similarly, people are moving away from regions with high natural disaster risk, congestion, or environmental pressures. Some are also seeking better air quality, less density, and more open space.

Proximity to family, retirement, and quality-of-life

Not all moves are career-driven. In 2024, for the first time in decades, being closer to family ranked as the top motivation for moving. United Van Lines reports that 28% of movers cited family proximity.

For retirees, the motivations more often include better climate, lower taxes, and cost-of-living. Some states, especially in the Southeast, benefit from this “retirement migration.”

Push factors: why people leave their current states

These motivators often work as push factors in high-cost states:

Housing cost and cost of living: In states like California, New York, and Massachusetts, many households struggle with soaring home prices, rents, and general living costs.
Taxes: High income taxes, property taxes, and aggressive state and local tax burdens push people to lower-tax states.
Congestion, commute times, and quality of life: Dense urban areas with long commutes, traffic, pollution, and crowding often lose residents to suburban or exurban regions.
Regulation and business environment: Some small business owners, self-employed people, and entrepreneurs cite regulatory burdens or unfavorable business policies.
Economic stagnation: Regions facing job losses, declining industries, or less economic opportunity tend to see outbound migration.
Desire for simpler living or lower stress: Many people pursue quieter, less frenetic lifestyles in mid-sized cities or rural zones.

In short: people are being pushed out by expense, taxation, and congestion and pulled in by affordability, flexibility, climate, and family.

Who Moves Where? Age and Stage Patterns

Migration doesn’t occur uniformly across all ages. There are distinct patterns associated with young adults, middle-age workers, and retirees.

Younger adults (20s–40s)

High mobility: Younger adults are more likely to relocate, especially for job or educational opportunities. The U.S. Census’s Geographic Mobility data shows that mobility declines with age. (Census.gov)
Job & career moves: Many in their 20s–30s move to metro areas or regions with employment growth. For example, Atlanta is increasingly attracting college-educated Americans seeking job prospects. (Axios)
Preference for affordability + opportunity: Young professionals often leave expensive coastal areas (NY, CA) for lower-cost but still dynamic metro regions (Raleigh, Charlotte, Atlanta, Nashville, Austin).
Suburban and exurban shift: Many younger adults, especially when forming families, are leaving dense urban cores for suburbs or exurbs due to affordability, space, and quality of life. This is part of the broader suburbanization trend. (Wikipedia)

Middle age (40s–60s), families

School districts, community, and stability: As people have children, local factors like school quality, safety, community amenities, and housing space become more important.
Downsizing or right-sizing: Some in this age bracket move out of large homes or costly metros into mid-sized cities or suburban areas offering more value.
Closer to family and care: Moves to be nearer aging parents or to be part of a family network become more common in this stage.

Retirees and older adults (60+)

Retirement migration: Many retirees move to states with favorable tax treatment of retirement income (or no state income tax on retirement income), warmer climates, or lower cost-of-living.
Sun Belt advantage: States in Florida, the Carolinas, Tennessee, and Arizona are popular retirement destinations.
“Aging in place” within preferred climates: Some people relocate later in life to their ideal climate zones or to be near family or medical facilities.

Some migration data reflect that older populations are a significant share of those leaving high-tax states. For example, United Van Lines reports that among those moving out of New Jersey, 22% cited retirement as the motivation.

Likewise, Delaware’s inbound migration in 2024 included over half of movers aged 65 and older, with family proximity (36%) as a leading reason.

Demographic data research

The Census Bureau’s “Birth Cohort Geographic Mobility” brief (covering 2005–2023) shows that younger cohorts (aged 20–29, 30–39) have higher mobility rates, while older cohorts (65+) are far less mobile. (Census.gov)
Over time, migration rates decline with age, and older cohorts tend to move shorter distances. (Census.gov)

Sample Top Destination States (2023–2024) & What Makes Them Attractive

Here’s a sampling of some of the top destinations in recent years and what draws people there:

State	Notable Inbound Trend	Key Attractors / Factors
South Carolina	Strong net inbound migration; 1.26% growth in 2023–2024	Lower cost of living, moderate taxes, mild climate, coastal amenities, growing metros (Greenville, Charleston).
North Carolina	Among top inbound states per Allied report	Good job growth, decent taxes, mix of urban + suburban + rural options, strong universities, appealing for families and retirees.
Tennessee	Inbound migration consistently high	No state income tax, reasonable real estate values, vibrant cities like Nashville and Knoxville, good balance of amenities and affordability.
Georgia	Growing metro areas (e.g. Atlanta)	Large regional hub, employment opportunities, more affordable suburbs, appeal to younger professionals.
Virginia	Being adjacent to Washington, D.C.	Diverse geography (mountains, coastline), robust economy, public services, moderate tax policies, attractiveness to federal workers and relocations.
Delaware	Surge in inbound migration (% basis)	Proximity to Northeast markets, no sales tax, modest cost of living, retirees moving closer to family in the region.
West Virginia	High percentage inbound in some van-line data	Very affordable housing, scenic and rural appeal, quieter lifestyle, outdoors amenities.

Note: Some of these states may see only modest numeric gains (because of small populations) but significant percentage gains.

Challenges, Caveats & Future Uncertainties

While the trends are instructive, we should temper conclusions with caution:

Migration is leveling off: Some data suggest interstate migration is cooling. Reports show a 7% reduction in interstate relocations in 2024 relative to 2023.
Local congestion & infrastructure strain: Growing inbound states may face challenges in housing supply, traffic, schools, and services, potentially pushing future movers elsewhere.
Policy shifts: Tax or regulatory changes can reverse or alter flows. States that become less favorable may lose momentum.
Remote work volatility: If companies rotate back to stricter in-office policies, the geographic flexibility that spurred many moves may diminish.
Climate risks: Some Southern and Southwestern states face heat stress, drought, storm risk, or wildfire potential — long-run climate concerns might influence choices.
International migration interplay: Some states’ growth is heavily driven by immigration. Domestic migration alone might tell a different story.

Implications for a Moving & Storage Company (like Craig Van Lines)

Understanding migration trends offers important strategic insight:

Route planning and capacity allocation
If inbound flows continue toward the Southeast and mid-sized metros (Charlotte, Greensboro, Greenville, Nashville, Raleigh), those routes may see growth. Expanding service or staging storage capacity along those corridors could yield dividends.
Targeted marketing by segment
Younger professionals relocating for jobs or remote work will have different needs (modular downsizing, flexible scheduling) compared to retirees moving a household full. Tailoring messaging (e.g. “help with downsizing,” “senior relocation support”) can improve conversions.
Forecasting demand surge cycles
States with cooling inbound flows (e.g. Texas, Florida) may see slower growth, while rising locales like the Carolinas, Tennessee, or Virginia might become hotspots. Monitoring census updates, allied reports, and van lines studies is crucial.
Small city and rural/intermediate market opportunity
Since many moves are toward less-dense, nonmetro counties or secondary cities, having infrastructure or partnerships in those markets can help you capture business beyond major metros.
Emphasizing flexibility, storage, and specialty services
People moving longer distances, or in stages (move now, sell home later), often need temporary storage, multi-leg moves, or “first door-to-door leg, then final delivery” support.

Key Takeaways

The Sun Belt and Southeast remain the dominant inward-migration regions, with states like South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and Virginia seeing consistent growth.
High-cost, high-tax states such as California, New York, and Illinois continue to see net domestic outflows, largely driven by affordability pressures, taxation, and congestion.
Affordability, tax climate, remote work flexibility, lifestyle preferences, and family considerations are the principal factors motivating relocation.
Younger adults are the most mobile and often move for job or growth reasons; older adults are more likely to move for climate, tax, or family reasons, and middle-age families often prioritize schools, community, and stability.
For moving and storage providers, catering to destination corridors, offering flexible solutions, and adapting to shifting hotspots is essential.

If you need help moving to one of these locations please call Craig Van Lines for a Free Quote.

Where Are People Moving to in the U.S. — and Why It Matters for Movers Like Craig Van Lines